Bin scheme is very confusing

PUBLISHED: 13:20 13 July 2006 | UPDATED: 21:12 29 May 2010

IN RESPONSE to Louise Keeble s letter in the Postbag on June 15. The number on the recyclable plastic items is a reference to whether it can be put in the green bin for recycling or in the black bin for the landfill sites. The thing you are looking for i

IN RESPONSE to Louise Keeble's letter in the Postbag on June 15. The number on the recyclable plastic items is a reference to whether it can be put in the green bin for recycling or in the black bin for the landfill sites.

The thing you are looking for is a small triangular symbol with a number inside it. If it is a 1, 2 or 3 it can go green anything else numbered 4-7, marked PET, marked with any other markings or not marked at all has to go black.

This means that there is an awful lot of plastic that still goes to the landfill sites. I feel very sorry for the disabled or elderly as it is all very confusing and the markings are not clear.

I have it on authority that quite a lot of bins were refused collection last week as the contents were mixed or had food scraps in carrier bags.

The council will not take food scraps wrapped in supermarket plastic bags even if they say '100 per cent degradable'.

This is because they are not bio-degradable, so you have to buy the special and somewhat pricey recycling bags from the council.

Let's hope that the council are on hand to answer any queries without refusing too many more bin collections, especially as they seem to have a new office and helpline for the recycling.

Does anyone else think that our council tax will rise sharply next year to pay for this, the new bins, the new lorries and the manpower and the diesel for the two collections each collecting day?

Name and address withheld

Editor's note: The binmen will put an explanation label on recycling bins if a mix-up with waste renders them uncollectable. It is hoped this will avoid the mistake being made again.